ANZAC DAY CELEBRATION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 169, 28 April 1916, Page 2

ANZAC DAY CELEBRATION.

At the Pukekohe School. On Thursday of last week, the day substituted for Anzac Day on account of that day falling in the Easter holidays, a celebration was held at the Pukekohe public school, when several speakers including his Worship the Mayor (Mr 11. G. R. Mason) conveyed to the children fie meaning of "Anzac," outlining the glorious eN'try of our New Zealand boys into the present world conllict on behalf of Groat Britain, the landing at Gallipoli in the face of enormous difficulties and odds and their noble stand on the Peninsula and wonderful withdrawal.

After being briefly introduced to the children by Mr F. Perkins, Chairmau of tho School Committee, who read the circular letter requesting that such proceedings should be held, His Worship emphasised the greatness of the British Empire. It consisted, he said, of many countries which went to make a huge population. It had produced men that had become renowned, both in peace and war. Included amongst our great sciertists and travellers were Captain Cook, who discovered NewZealand. Similarly tho Empire had been blessed with great soldiers It wa3 duo to their hard fighting that the Union Jack waved over this young Dominion. He could i not but help feeling proud of what our nation had accomplished in battle. He iustanced the groat victories at Waterloo and Crecy. After explaining the meaning of "An/,ac'' he spoke of the assistance in men and money that had beon given tho Mother Country in her present trial and placed New Zealand on a levol with other portions of tho British Empire, and its soldiers on a footing with those they had read of in history books. Dealing with the landing on Gallipoli he said "our" soldiers had accomplished what the world considered impossible. He considered it a very great honour for our men to be participating in the conflict. Iu conclusion he asked them to try and remember the great doeds accomplished by this Dominion in the war (applause). On rising to speak Mr Flavell, the headmaster, neeived an ovation from the children He said that the Great Empire on which the sun never sets was at war, and New Zealand, which was a portion of the Empire, had sent her soldiers forward to fight in her interests. Even from Pukekohe men had gone to Gallipoli and to France to fight the enemy. Through loyalty to the British Empire men had volunteered to help her in time of peril. From every part men had flocked to the standard of Great Britain. It was because they be] lieved that Germany aimed at the disrupture of our Great Empire. Even enrolled amongst the British banners were Maoris, Hindoos and other people of conquered racos, proving that our country wa3 a just and benign one. Romans and Spaniards had had great empires, but today, he said, none of it remained in their possession. None of them had been able to hold tho goodwill of the conquered but the British, a fact which wa3 unique in history. They were the only people who understood free Government and how to colonise. He instanced the freedom we had of the seas ; our troopships and merchantships being able to traverso the ocean as a result of the British Navy, to a>ooid which the German navy remained in the Kiel Canal. When they remembered that, he said, thoy had to admire those worthy desceudants of Nelson in tho British Navy. Referring to tho Union Jack, he statod it was the emblem of freedom, and that where it vr&i thero could be no slave. It had been tho emblem of victory and he expressed the hope that it would continue to do so

Mr C. K. Lawrie in a short speech paid tribute to New Zealand soldiers, in connection with whose deeds tho world was re echoing with pride. It was only by their efforts, he said, that our country had not been invaded.

The Rev. J. B Suckling expressed pleasure that on that day of celebration newspapers should be recording tho capture from the Turks of that great fort, Trebi/oud, which would lead to better things and would accomplish somothiug that was intended by tho men of Gallipoli. Dealing with tho uumerciless outrages and treachory exhibited by the Germans he said that their actions only seemed to make our soldiers braver. In reference to the great British army that came into existence at the outset of the war he alluded to it as a miracle. Millions of men, he said, sprung up as out of the ground. Ho held the view that the fighting by our soldiers on Gallipoli was not wasted as they held the foe at bay. Never again, ho said, would such a disaster happen, but the same bravery and courage would prevail. He trusted that every year they would bear those brave soldiers in mind and remember them in their pra3 r ers. Mr Perkins felt sure that in years to come the children would do their duty faithfully. Three cheers were given by the children for the speakers and threo for the New Zealanders and the School was then dismissed for the Easter holidays.

In the Churches. The commemoration of Aiuac Day in Pukekoho was observed by a united service of Presbyterians and Methodists, which was held on Tuesday evening inSt James Presbyterian Church. The interior of the building was beautifully decorated with white llowers and flags, The bcok rest was draped with the Union Jack, Hanked on either side by tlio New Zealand and Australian flags, while on the wall behind the pulpit hung the flags of the various Dominions.

The service was solemn and impressive and was very largely attended, the Church bring overcrowded. Tho service opened with a solemn Invocation sung by the choir, the congregation standing. Rev. S. Nixon, who conducted tho service, then read the Prime Minister's stirring message which had been sent in London. The service was largely musical, the sacred character of the anthems and solos

being in keeping with the spirit of the day. The address was given by Rev. J. B. Suckling who spoke of the glorious deeds of our boys on Gallipoli. The speaker dwelt at some length, not only on the heroic self-sacrifice of those who had fought and died, but also spoke of the self-sacrifice and heroism of the mothers of New Zealand who had so willingly and ungrudgingly given their sons in the defence of the Empire, lie reminded his audience that our soldiers woie lighting not against peoples, bit aga'nst principles : not for aggrandisement but for justice, truth, right, the honour of women and the safety of little children.

During tlio service tho choir rendered two anthems, viz., " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord" and " Who are those in white, robes," and solos were sung by Mrs Pilkiogton, Mrs Keano and MissE. W. Rodgors. The Rev. S. Nixon brought the servico to a closo by a solemn and impressive prayer on behalf of tho mourners After the pronouncing of tho Benediction by Rev. J. B. Suckliug, the National Anthem was most heartily sung by tho congregation, who reverently stood with bowed heads while the " Djad March " iu Saul was played by tin organist, Miss Penman. The collection, which was ia aid of ChaplainCaptain McDonald's Hospital Fun J, amounted to £7i